Oakland residents fight gang injunction plan

May 8, 2010 5:50:54 PM PDT

OAKLAND, CA --

A group of Oakland residents is trying to fight the police department's plan to impose a gang injunction on the city's north side by the end of the month.

The group wants police to consider other alternatives. Police are heading to court to ask a judge to impose a junction on the so-called North Side street gang. They say the gang has been linked to murder, robbery and extortion.

Opponents claim the court order would criminalize activities that are normally legal.

"We're investing more in chasing, arresting, apprehending people primarily of color," said Manuel Lafontaine with the Stop The Injunction Coalition. "So, we think investing in education programs will be a better alternative, a more community alternative, than a gang injunction."

The court has scheduled a hearing on the gang injunction for may 27th.